Improvement in brick-machines



2 Sheets--Shenef*J 1.

Patented Dec. 17,1878.

G. s, BIGLBR. iBfiek-Machim@.

".FETEHS, FHOTOMTHDGRAPAER. wASHxNGToN. c C.

Patented Dec. l?, i878.

NJPETERS. PHOTO-HTMDGRAPHER, wAsmNGTON. |16A 'UNITED S'rn'rns lASPER S. BIGLER, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRlCK-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 210,903, dated December 17, 1878; application filed June 19, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CASPER S. BIGLER, of Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented Ya new and useful Improvement in Biiclt-lilachines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to certain improvements on the machines for making brick described in Letters Patent No.172,864, granted to me February 1, 1876; and consists in the devices hereinafter specifically designated, the object being 'to provide a machine which will rapidly mold and deliver bricks.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of a device embodying the elements of the invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section of same. Fig. 3 is atop view of the hopper, presser-plate, and guide-wheels. Fig. at is a side elevation of the hopper. Fig. 5 is a detached view of the adjustable incline or piece L'. Fig. 6 is a detached perspective view of one of the pugblades, showing the adjustable plate n..

1n the accompanying drawings, A represents a base or platform, to which is secured the vertical frame B,which is properly braced, and sustains the auxiliary platformA a. The platform c has secured at a suitable point upon y its upper surface the auxiliary hopper C, which is sustained in any convenient manner above the crushing-rollers b, mounted upon the shafts c c, which are jonrnaled in the frame d, and provided on their ends which extend beyond lthe frame with the spur-gear wheels D, and also on the shaft c with the wheel E, properly constructed to engage the chain-gearing F, connecting the wheel E with a similarly-constructed wheel, G, mounted upon the shaft f, which is journaled in the pillow or plumber blocks g, secured upon the rear of the frame B. Upon the platform A is also secured the vertical frame I, which sustains the shaft h, furnished at the end with gear-wheels i j, proporly constructed to engage a chain-gcarin g. Midway between thesides of the frame l, upon the shaft It, is secured the worin J, which meshes with the teeth of the gear-wheel L, rigidly secured upon the upper end of the vertical shaft l, which is supported as to its upper parts by the plumber-block m., and eX- tcnds downward, occupying the vertical axial center of the hopper M, in the lower part of which the shaft is retained in a suitably-constructed step. Upon the lower portion of the shaft l is provided the propeller N, the wings or blades of which radiate at right angles from the vertical center of the shaft, and are furnished with the independent plates a. These` plates may be secured to the blades by any suitable means, though itis preferred to fast-en them by slots and set-screws, which will allow them to be readily adjusted to accommodate the wear and tear of the blades or wings.

It has been ascertained by practical experience that these independent plates add much to the cheapness of the machine, as heretofore manufacturers have been compelled to throw the whole propeller away as soon as the wings became slightly worn in diameter, which takes place very rapidly; but by the employment of the before-mentioned plates they may be made to last much longer than usual, as the plates may be set out as soon as the wings are discovered to be worn, thus taking up the wear and insuring a proper operation of the device. Above the propeller N, upon the shaft Z, may be provided the knives q, which serve to mi x the clay and press it down upon the propeller. The hopper is properly secured against the frame I in a vertical position, its' bottom being a solid plate, except the crescentshapedl aperture p, suitably constructed to allow the egress ofthe clay. This hopper is, in the present instance, divided in its vertical longitudinal center into two parts or sections, which are connected by hinges, properly formed to allow one part of the hopper to be opened, exposing its interior, and allowing it to be readily cleansed of all stones, sticks, and rubbish.

1t is obvious that the hopper may be divided transversely or otherwise into as many parts or sections as desired, the parts being connected by hinges, and fastened by any desirable means.

Immediately above the hopper M, and secured to the auxiliary platform a., is the chute l?, through which the clay passes on its way to the hopper from the rollers b, where it is ground and rendered suitable to be formed into bricks.

It is evident that any convenient number of these rollers maybe used, and that they may be placed any suitable distance apart.

rIhe door or section of the hopper M is pro-y vided with the planing-knife X, situated immediately above the molds as they come from under the hopper-or rather as they are just about to pass from under the hopper--and is employed to remove any surplus clay that may adhere to the table between the molds, or that may get into the molds, leaving it in the hopper, thus enabling the operator to work cleaner than usual and keep the table clear of surplus clay.

rlhe wheel j is provided with an arm or crank, through which motion is imparted to the shaft 7L. 'Ihe wheel j is connected by a chain-gearing to/the similarlyconstructed gear-wheel Q, secured upon the shaft R, one end of which is mounted in the standard r, and the other end in the movable hanger S, yhinged to the rear of the frame B, and having its lower end controlled by the connectin g-rod s, secured to the lower end of the lever T', by means of which the rod is operated, the rack t and pinion U being provided to retain the lever in the position desired.

Upon the shaft R, near the hanger S, is provided the friction-wheel u, which co-operates with the larger friction-wheel@ upon the shaft V, mounted in bearings at each end, and provided with the worm w, which engages the teeth ofthe mold-table XV.

The mold-table isA secured below the center of the frame I by a pivot, provided at its upper end with the bevel-gear wheel A', the teeth of which mesh with the bevel-gear wheel c', secured upon the shaft B', mounted in the hanger b', and provided with the belt-wheel C', whichmay be connected, by a belt or otherwise, with the belt-wheel d', mounted upon the shaft D', sustained in the bearings e', and has rigidly secured upon it the wheels E', placed a suitable distance apart, and connected by or provided with any suitable number of paddles or scrapers f', which are employed to sweep or convey the bricks, as they are discharged from the mold off from the mold-table, upon an endless traveling belt, which carries them off a proper distance, and

deposits them upon a conveying-belt, resttable, or in the hands of a workman.

It is obvious that as the moldtable revolves,

Amotion will be communicated, through the mitergear wheels A' a', belt-wheels C' d', and shaft D', to the scrapers or paddles f', thereby operating the same.

The upper surface of the mold-table is provided with the annular elevation F', consisting of a ring rising above the horizontal plane of the table. In this elevation are constructed the molds g', of usual configuration, its lower surface or plate being furnished with the wheels G', which ascend and descend the inclined ways H', thereby elevating the lower plate to the .upper surface of the'mold-table, and then gradually descending until it passes the hopper and presser-plate, when it again ascends and delivers the brick, as before.

At a suitable point to one side of the frame I, and immediately above the annular elevation F', is provided the presser-plate h', fur? nished with the planing-knife I', which can be adjusted to snit the necessities attending the -operation of the machine, and is arranged to sweep the circumference ofthe annular elevation F'. This presser-plate is constructed to correspond with the form of the elevation F' of the mold-table, so that the great amount of friction existing in the machines in common use may be prevented, as the presser-plate impinges upon the annular elevation and no other part of the mold-table.

In the inclined ways H', and just beneath the presser-plate h', is` provided the in dep en dent, movable, adjustable elevating-slide L', provided upon its upper surface for a portion of its length with a groove, and upon its outer end with a standard or block, l', in which the elongated screw m' operates, said screw being properly mounted in bearings to maintain its position. The elevating-slide Il' is beveled,

for the purpose hereinafter mentioned, its inner end being reduced in thickness in a degree governed by its length. It is obvious that by turning the set-screw from left to right the thinner end of the elevating-slide L' will be pushed beyond the annular elevation F', and that the thicker end will be brought in position immediately below the presser-plate. Now, when the mold reaches this elevatingslide L' its plunger will ride up the thickness, and thus make a thinner brick than it would if the thinner end of the said piece'L' were under the presser-plate. It is also obvious that as the elevating-slide L' is very gradually beveled the thickness of the bricks can be governed at will by simply turning the set-screw from left to right, or by reversing that operation.

In the side of the hopper, near the bottom, and over the elevation F' of the mold-table W, is provided the orifice a', which acts as a safety-valve by relieving the pressure in the hopper when it is full, by allowing the clay to force its way out through the same. It will appear evident that this orifice may be fur nished with a door or other suitable means of protecting it or closing the same when desired.

The aperture in the bottom of the hopper may be of any suitable configuration; but it is preferred to have it conform with that portion of the annular elevation that passes under it,

rings or washers N', which serve as a bearing for the mold-table, and facilitate the operation of the machine by keeping the table in a true position. Secured at suitable points around the periphery of the table YV are the guidewheels I, which co-operate with the rings N in causing the table to run in a true manner. Itis clear that any suitable number ot' these Wheels may be used, and also that they may be secured as desired.

The gear-Wheel i is connected by the chaingearing fr lto the gearwheel 05"', mounted upon the shaft f, and is employed to columnnieate motion,through the shaft f, Wheel G, chain-gearing F, and Wheel E, to the crushing` or grinding rollers b.

Motion being imparted to the gear\vl1eel j, the shaft h is caused to rotate, which revolves the gear-wheel t. rIhis communicatesimpetus, through the chain-gearingzv', to the Wheel mi, mounted upon the shaft f, which, heilig revolved, causes the WheelG to operate, bringing into action the gearing F and Wheel E, which set in motion the gear-wheels D, secured upon the axles of the grinding or crushing rollers b, which are rotated by the movement ofthe gears D.

Then the Wheel j is revolved motion is also comm unicated, through the shaft h, to the worm J and gear-wheel L, mounted upon the shaft I, which is thereby caused to be rotated in the hopper containing the material to be converted into brick.

The movement of the wheel j also communicates motion through a chain-gearing to the wheel Q, secured upon the shaft Ii, provided atits other end with the fr'ictio1r-\vhee1u, which, when brought into contact With the frictionwheel fr by the rod s, imparts motion to it, and causes the Worin w to operate in conjunction With the teeth of the mold-table W', causing the same to revolve. This rotates the Wheels A and a', therebyT imparting motion, through the shaft B and belt-Wheels C and d', to the paddles or serapers f', which, as the brick emerges from the mold, sweep it from the inold-tabie on to a suitable traveling belt.

It is obvious that the Wheels E may be operated by either spur or cam gearing.

'Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a brick-machine, the Wheel E', provided with one or more sorapers, f', arranged to come in contact with the long edge of the brick as it rises above the mold-table, substantially as set forth.

2. The mold-table provided With theannular elevation F', in combination with a hinged hopper provided with an aperture, j), conforming to the Width of the upper surface of the said elevation, substantially as setforth.

3. In a brick-machine, a propeller for expelling the clay from the hopper, the arms of Which are provided with adjustable removable plates, substantiallyT as specified.

4. The guidewheels Pf, for the purpose of sustaining the mold-table and preventing its oscillation, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the Washers N and guide-Wheels P, as set forth. 

